Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-07-12

that something was about to happen.
they paused.
Go forward, l sayr' repeated the
Captain, sternly,
One of the negroes took single step
in advance of his comrades.
I'VE hab been deceibcd," he said.
speaking in a thick voice and 10 broken
English. "Dis bad ship; dis unlucky
ship; debbil in dc ship. We four neb-
Der 20 in UNI! Pit us ashore, sab,
quick"
The others heard this startling dcclar-
alton with various feelings. but every
eye was upon the Captain. They saw
his face darken, and his little eyes
shine like Goals. He stood motionloss
as post, his head slightly thrown
back, ard his right hand thrust into
the breast of his tightly-buttoned coat
He spoke low, but there was a danger
Gus rasp in his voice.
"Mr. Hardy, get pair of handouts.
Shackle that man, and coniine him be-
low three days on bread and water
There was a low muttering among
the negroes MS the mate started TO
obey the order. The balance of the
crew edged back little, as though
they wanted TO be out of the way of
the impending trouble. Dick Purvis
stood aside, somewhat nearer the Cap
tain, holding capstan-bar behind
him. To his surprise and delight, he
found Jose Gardez by his side with an
other such bar in his hand. nodding his
head TO him, rs much as to say: I'm
with you.n The Mate stood close up
to the Captain when he spoke. and inn
mcdiatcly started for the handouts.
The strain and suspense of such
moment is exquisitely painful. All on
that deck felt it, though with different
thoughts and emotions. The mate
was certainly not gone two minutesi
but the time that passed before his
head emerged above the deck as he
ran up the cabin-stairs seemed an
age.
The attitude and appearance of one
man there ought to be mentioned. This
was Louis Hunter. He stood at the
right Of the Captain, leaning up against
the quarter-rail, smoking cigarette.
He looked on rs carelessly as though
he had not the slightest interest in
what occurred.
The mate went directly to the negro.
f" Hold out your hands," he said.
With n motion like flash, the fell
low seized the handouts and tossed |
them overheard. One sweep of his |
powerful arm thrust the mate aside.
His clasp-knife was plucked from his |
waistband, opened and brandished;
with a yell he sprang toward the Cap
tain. His eyes were bloodshot and
glaring; those who saw his face saw
something more pitiless and ferocious
than is in the faces of wild beasts.
Some of the men on the deck shud-
dered; some closed their eyes. Some
rejoiccd like fiends. Two, at least
started forward, brandishing capstan,
bars. Yet they could not have been in
time to avail against the agile, sudden
movements of this mad human animal.
There was u loud report; tho negro |
suddenly stopped. His eyes rolled hor-
ribly in his head; his knife dropped |
from his grasp. He threw uphis arms,
plunged forward, and fell in n heap on
the deck-dead, with bullet through |
his heart
The Captain advanced single step.
A great navy revolver, still smoking,
was in his hand.
you see what l mean" he quietly
said. Now, to your duty, every man!
You all know who is Captain, by this
time.
There was not an instant's delay.
The crew fell back, dumb and con-
quered by this stern exhibition of au-
thority. The mate speedily assem-
blcd them at the capstan, the anchor
came up, the sails were spread, slowly |
and awkwardly, and the bark with |
wind and current in her favor, so that
nothing was needed, sailed out past
the frowning guns of Moro Castle, and
TO the open sea.
The Captain paced the after-deck,
and watched the mate as he moved
about among the crew. Cool as the
man had been through this exciting
scene, he now began to feel the revul-
sion as the strain was removed. He
wanted some one to talk TO, and looked
around for Louis, but he had gone
down into the cabin.
In few moments the mate came aft
and touched his cap.
They're doing fairly well, SIR" he
said. 'Lubbers, the most of them,
but they don't hang back now.
reckon we shall get all out of them
that they can do"
VERY well, Mr.. Hardy. Who's at
the wheel?n
"Dick Purvis, SIR"
Fright again. We're well out of
the harbor, l should Think
"Quite outside, sir.
keep her east by north for the pres
cnt."
EAST by north, sir"
"And l say, Mr. Hardy, just see if
there is any life in that fellow on the
deck there. 1 meant TO shoot him
straight through the heart, and 1 think
did"
The mate went and turned the cum
brous body over on its back. A pool of